About Product Images

This image is a general representation of the item and the actual product may differ slightly in terms of color shading, logo placement, borders, or other small details. Used items may have various cosmetic differences as well.

We realize that there are many different interpretations of the standard grades used
for pre-owned vinyl record albums & CD, so we thought we'd offer you the ones that we are working with,
so you have an idea what we mean when we give the grade for a non-new item on our pages.

Used Vinyl Grades

Below are stated conditions for a used vinyl records at Dusty Groove. Grading for
the cover should be assumed to be near (within a "+" or "-")
the grading for the vinyl.
If there is significant divergence from the condition of the vinyl, or specific flaws,
these will be noted in the comments section of the item. However, please be aware that
since the emphasis of this site is towards the music listener, our main concern is with
the vinyl of any used item we sell. Additionally, please note that all of our records
are graded visually; considering the volume of used vinyl we handle, it is impossible
for us to listen to each record. If we spot any significant flaws, we make every attempt
to listen through them and note how they play.

The following grading conditions apply to the vinyl component of an album or single:

Additional Marks & Notes

If something is noteworthy, we try to note it in the comments — especially
if it is an oddity that is the only wrong thing about the record.
This might include, but isn't limited to, warped records, tracks that skip,
cover damage or wear as noted above, or strictly cosmetic flaws.

You might be interested in

Johnny Lytle

One of Johnny Lytle's monster vibes 'n organ LPs from the early 60's. Released on the Jazzland subsidiary of Riverside, and a tough one to find! The album comes complete with the great original track "Lela", a jazz dance classic if there ever was one, and other nice tracks like "Hap ... LP, Vinyl record album

Gerald Wilson

Very hip stuff from Gerald Wilson – about as tight and hard as you can get for 60s big band work! The players on the set aren't listed clearly, but we can be sure that they're some of Gerald's usual contemporaries – the best of the mid 60s LA soul jazz and avant bop scene, all working ... LP, Vinyl record album

Gerald Wilson

The title's a weird one, because the album was recorded in the studio and not on stage – but we're hardly going to complain, because the record's so great! Wilson is really cooking for this one – leading an all-great group that includes Curtis Amy, Roy Ayers, Jack Wilson, Joe Pass, ... LP, Vinyl record album

Chico Hamilton

A classic from the west coast scene of the 50s – and not to be confused with other similar-titled Chico Hamilton albums at the time! This one sports an abstract painting on the cover, and was recorded in 1956 at the Forum Theater in Los Angeles – not live, but using the space as a very ... LP, Vinyl record album

Freddie Gambrell

Quite an obscure little session – especially for the Pacific Jazz label, who mostly worked with some of the bigger names on the west coast scene! Pianist Freddie Gambrell is a player we only know from this one rare album – but it's quite a gem, and is cut in an unusual format that ... LP, Vinyl record album

Jazz Crusaders

One of the coolest records the Jazz Crusaders ever cut! The album's got their usual hard soul jazz quintet sound augmented by a bigger band – strangely uncredited on the record, but giving the group a lofty sound that pushes them into a whole new sound! The core style is still the LA soul ... LP, Vinyl record album

Thelonious Monk

A brilliant title for this brilliant album from Thelonious Monk – a set that really has him coming back strongly in the second half of the 50s – with a new talent for arrangements that really goes past his previous work! Monk's piano and compositions are every bit as great as before ... LP, Vinyl record album